by Carole Di Tosti . . .
What a pleasure! Pangea welcomed back their cabaret darlings Barbara Bleier and Austin Pendleton, who were joined by longtime friends Gretchen Cryer and Richard Maltby, Jr. What an inspiration it is to see these performers, whose joie de vivre and enthusiasm radiated throughout the show and afterward, as fans, friends and newcomers stayed to chat in the glow of Pangea’s spacious front bar section.
The show (May 2nd and 9th), shepherded by music director and accompanist/singer Paul Greenwood, inspired my friends and I, and lifted us with a tremendous emotional boost. It also validated this truism: we must not limit ourselves, but must celebrate and reaffirm our dreams, past and present, and keep on moving forward.
That theme seemed to be the focus of the evening in the humorous, poignant, and profound song selections, eight of them written by renowned Maltby, Jr. and collaborator David Shire, who was present in the audience that packed the club from wall to wall. Four songs were written by Gretchen Cryer. Two songs were written by long-time collaborators Amanda McBroom (lyricist) and Michelle Brourman (music). A Stephen Sondheim song rounded out the fine list.
Barbara Bleier’s solo performance of the McBroom/Brourman song, “God of War,” was particularly striking and memorable. Brourman, infuriated at the parallels between Hitler and Putin’s wars, recently re-leased “God of War” as a single to benefit World Central Kitchen in Ukraine.
Actor, director, performer Pendleton, a whirlwind of activity, who recently directed two-time 2023 Tony nominated Between Riverside and Crazy, and singer/writer/actor/classically trained pianist Barbara Bleier are enlightened collaborators. They have performed together for years and have entertained Pangea’s delighted audiences numerous times. Also, in January 2023, they recently made their debut in London to reviewers’ acclaim. With typical dry humor, a British critic stated, “In Britain, the term ‘national treasure’ is often rather tossed around, but we’d say this duo would seem to qualify,” J C, London Living Large.
Students, fans, friends, and those acquainted with their prodigious body of work in film, TV, theater, and cabaret, would agree with the estimation of the critic. This is especially so, if they were present last night at this gathering of renowned, vital, music collaborators. It was an outstanding, once-in-a-lifetime event to experience the hyphenate singers, actors, musicians, writers engaged in fun and laughter, as they performed together, and in pairs, trios, and solos.
The songs were standouts. I didn’t want the evening to end. Beginning with the humorous Maltby and Shire, “Spring Cleaning,” the friends joined in. Pendleton told me later that he met Cryer, Shire and Maltby, Jr. at Yale Drama, where they encouraged each other’s talents, singing and making music. They have remained friends ever since. Pendleton mentioned that their friendship goes back sixty years. It is incredible that they are still making music together.
Barbara Bleier mentioned that she is “the newbie,” of the group. She collaborated with Pendleton after meeting him as a student. They discovered they enjoyed singing together in solos and duos. This has been for more than a few decades. They are popular featured performers around New York City clubs and meld seamlessly and comfortably.
My friends, who are Austin Pendleton students, loved, “There,” (Maltby & Shire), which Pendleton set up as a couple at a therapist’s office with Bleier as the other half, who is “there” in the partnership, while her partner “isn’t there.” My friends also enjoyed, “Too Many Women” (Gretchen Cryer), the humorous solo by Pendleton in which he used his phone as a prop. According to the lyrics, we imagine he receives texts and emails from so many women, he is overwhelmed. And if we doubt him, as he says at the conclusion, we can just ask his wife. That last line got a huge laugh, for she was sitting in the audience.
I was emotionally touched by Maltby, Jr. and Shire’s heartfelt, “The Story Goes On,” soulfully performed by Pendleton, and I was also engaged by Maltby, Jr. and Shire’s profound, poignant song of praise to their fathers, who also were musicians (pianists). Richard Maltby, Jr. did a wonderful interpretation of the song.
For the uplift and encouragement to “keep on keeping on,” Cryer and Bleier performed Gretchen Cryer’s hysterical “It Ain’t Over,” which has some great lines, i.e. “I’m gonna boogie, ‘til I’m done.” Fittingly, the show concluded with Stephen Sondheim’s “Old Friend,” from Merrily We Roll Along. It was a remarkable send-off by the “old friends.”
Bleier and Pendleton will be performing together in August. If you are in the Chicago area, look them up for a great evening of fun, sprinkled with depth and wisdom. For tickets at the Chicago venue go to https://www.steppenwolf.org/tickets–events/lookout/23-summer/barbara-and-austin-sing-steve-and-oscar/ Also, check Pangea’s website periodically for updates on their next appearance there, as well as other fine shows which often feature alternative voices. https://www.pangeanyc.com/
Photos: Maryann Lopinto
